Contributors

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Trade Shows

As if the losses of Brian Urlacher and the 2016 games wasn't enough, Chicago is hemorrhaging trade shows faster than Jay Cutler throws interceptions. Earlier this month, the national plastics show decided to move its exhibition to Orlando after more than 4 decades at McCormick Place. The loss of the plastics show is part a disturbing trend of big businesses leaving Chicago. Plastics Industry President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Carteaux said the decision boiled down to cost. "At the end of the day, when I talked to the folks in Chicago, it really came down to one major issue… and that's the cost," he said. "What they haven't been able to do yet is address the cost of exhibiting in Chicago." Trade shows play a critical role in the city's budget and generate vital revunue. For example, in June the plastics show brought in 95.3 million dollars. To put that in perspective, with that kinda dough you could buy 317,667 Playstation 3's or 238,250 Platinum Tickets to see the Blackhawks. Union officials claim they are not the ones to blame for driving trade shows out of Chicago, citing the high cost of food and drinks. Let's say your booth wants a case of Pepsi, at McCormick Place that'll run you $138. Oh, what's that? You want to keep your Pepsi cold? No problem, it's only $804 to rent a refrigerator for a week. At a recent press conference, Mayor Daley responded to Carteaux's decision to leave Chicago by stating, "Betrayal may come easily to women, but men live by iron codes of honor." Asked if he really believed that, Daley said, "I'm trying to. Real hard."